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| EPISODE 52 |
Perhaps due to the solemnity of the black soutane, reporters hesitate to speak out hastily. Nonetheless, the host is busy enjoying Yeong-gu, pausing for a moment without speaking. The deep gaze between the pure bangs and the white collar on the black clothes creates a strange harmony, making it seem as if this place has become a Yeong-gu parish.
How much time has passed? The host, who was momentarily captivated by the sight of the priest in Young-guk, regains his composure and taps on the microphone.
"Sorry for getting distracted for a moment. Well, now let's begin the press conference for the production of 'Confessions of a Priest'! Before the meal, let me formally introduce the Confessions of a Priest filming team and lead actors! First, the scriptwriter for Confessions of a Priest and the director who holds the megaphone, Shin Seong-hyeon!
..."
The host speaks in a thunderous voice, allowing the reporters to regain their composure. They were so stunned by the afterglow they felt as Yeong-gu appeared as if possessed by a ghost. As the host announces the name of the lead actor in Yeong-gu, the reporters begin to rush around taking pictures with their cameras.
"He's still frozen."
As the Q&A session for the reporters approaches, the expression of director Shin Seong-hyeon stiffens. They would eventually proceed with the production conference in a relaxed atmosphere as if it were a feast, but it was different now.
Holding the microphone, Shin Seong-hyeon's fingers are slightly trembling. No different from the other attendees, each of them responds with the utmost tension like prisoners in a hearing.
"I have a question for actor Jang Young-guk. Is there a specific reason why you chose the role of a murderer in the movie 'Confession of a Murderer,' which is rated as not suitable for young audiences, as your next project? It is a very drastic image transformation, so I am curious if there were any internal conflicts within your agency, such as choosing this role to express dissatisfaction due to a disagreement with the CEO. Alternatively, was there any noise between terrestrial broadcasters to cast you in this role? I heard that all three broadcasters made an effort to cast you."
The person speaking appears polite but there is a hidden thorn in their words. As a journalist, not everyone has a sense of mission like a war correspondent. Therefore, one slip of the tongue can be twisted and blown out of proportion, and they may fabricate their own views (brain speculation) as if they were the truth. Even now, or in the future, there will always be journalists like that.
However, I have dealt with these inexperienced people many times before, especially when I hold the microphone.
Director Shin Seong-hyeon takes the microphone first. His face shows that he is suppressing his anger.
"Excuse me, if it's not too much trouble, may I answer on behalf of actor Jang Yeong-guk?"
"I clearly asked the question to actor Jang Yeong-guk, didn't I?"
Ignoring the retort, Shin Seong-hyeon explains further.
"It's a question that Jang doesn't need to answer. By that logic, is it because you had a disagreement with your wife last night that your outfit is so disheveled? It seems like you didn't get enough sleep because your eyes are swollen, was there any difficulty for you to come to the press conference today?"
"What's the problem with you...! What are you trying to say to a journalist?"
"That goes for actors too. They chose the role due to a conflict with the representative. What nonsense is that? Actors are people who act. When selecting a role, they prioritize the script and don't consider practicality in reality. Lastly, please think of me not as a murderer but as a judge in the role of a priest. I know you received a pre-interview, I hope you understood it properly."
Wow!
Director Shin Sung-hyun is so bold. He seemed nervous earlier, surprised by the number of reporters, but he seems to have regained his composure. After a brief silence, another reporter's question follows.
"Actor Jang Young-guk seems to have a bright future as an actor. Frankly, as a journalist, I've never seen a young actor make such a bold decision. If he performs well in this role, I think he can completely break free from his child actor image."
He's a middle-aged reporter. I've seen him once before in a script reading room. Was his name Kwak Myeong-hwan? I heard he's a well-known figure among journalists.
Of course, I couldn't find out if he retired when I mentioned his name in my past life. But that's probably because he didn't become famous until he hit rock bottom.
"But during the pre-interview, I had this thought. The protagonist in the script is a priest who plays the role of a judge. What is the evil that the protagonist defines in that role?"
Yes, that's how questions should be. It's normal to have a Q&A session related to the movie. It's not about touching on the actor's personal life. And finally, a solemn voice flows out.
"Before I tell you what the protagonist thinks, let me borrow someone else's words. Evil is not only an invisible existence, but it can also be seen around us by just looking at our neighbors. How many people commit evil deeds and live their lives without remorse or regret? They can be considered more evil than invisible entities. However, the definition of evil that the protagonist thinks of is slightly different. I would appreciate it if you could see the answer to that in the theater."
The journalist's satisfied smile suggests that they liked the answer. The subsequent questions were all expected, so there was room to mix in some jokes during the answers.
The MC's eyes, which had been tense, now flutter like a butterfly as their mouth dances around. They were said to have been a comedian before, and it seems that we get along well.
Meanwhile, Shin Seong-hyun, the director, and others are wiping their sweat and surprised. Even though they had gone through a lot in the movie, they are naturally tense in the production presentation, but isn't the lead actor (Jang Yeongguk) who is practically a newcomer leading the atmosphere?
Moreover, their occasional jokes with the reporters make them seem like they have been to these kinds of events hundreds of times. Thanks to that, the frozen production presentation venue briefly blossoms with laughter.
The day after the production presentation, articles related to "Confession of a Priest" started to flood in like a deluge. If it was an ordinary movie production presentation, such articles would not have emerged one after another like this.
Well, isn't it the next work of an actor who received the title of "the nation's first love"? It's natural that people are interested.
"You wrote so well, didn't you?"
The closing remarks of other veteran entertainment reporters, including Kwak Myung-hwan, were all compliments.
"Walking the path of a flawless actor without any hesitation even as a rookie."
Even the closing remarks are amazing. Of course, not all articles were praise. There were also articles spreading rumors that the movie would fail under the name of a drastic image transformation, but the number of such articles was so small that they could hardly be found without looking for them. Besides.
"Jeong-seok hyung, when did you become so good at interviews?"
It's actor Song Jung-seok, who has appeared on TV a lot over the past three years. As he earned the title of a national actor, his acting skills have been improving day by day.
Thanks to that, I appeared not only in dramas but also in entertainment and documentaries. On one day, in an interview with a weekly magazine, they chose me as the person who changed their values in my acting career.
An anecdote.
-When I had nothing, there was a friend who gave me white rice and a warm place to sleep. Although he was younger than me, he was much more mature than me and gave me the compass of life as a gift when I was worrying about my future as an actor. Do you know what it tastes like when you eat rice mixed with tears, journalist? I still can't forget the feast I had at that time.
It's a bit awkward. Although I paid back the favor that Song Joong-ki, a national actor in the past, had given me in my childhood. As I was reading the newspaper for a while, a shadow was cast over my head.
"Hey, why are you laughing so much since morning, Younguk?"
"Uncle, give me a sign before you come in! You scared me!"
"What kind of sign? I called you several times to come down for breakfast, but you didn't hear me. By the way, do you know Kwak Myung-hwan who wrote that article so well for you?"
"Uncle, do you know him?"
Chief Editor refers to one of the top executives of a newspaper company who decides the editing and direction of publications. So, I might not have known that. By the way, there's a journalist named Kwak Myeong-hwa who is really an amazing person from a high-class family. In a way, it seems like he's skipping the middle process and going straight to the executive position as a team leader.
"Stop looking for articles and come down for breakfast. The Kongnamul soup that the aunty made today is spicy and really hot. It's really refreshing for the stomach."
It seems that my uncle drank too much alcohol last night. Grandfather's nose is still stained with a bluish tint, so it seems like the two of them got drunk. When I finished breakfast with the Hot Bean Sprout soup prepared by the housekeeper aunty and prepared to go to school, my grandfather (Director Baek Jang-hoon) handed me something.
"This is for you, Young-guk."
It's a handkerchief with a embroidered chrysanthemum. It's old, showing the traces of time, but it's still well maintained and stiff.
"What is this, Grandfather?"
"Whenever grandpa shoots a movie, he wears this thing on his body. It's like a talisman. You know, shooting a drama is relatively safe, but movies are not. The shooting location changes frequently, you see. Except for independent films, when shooting your first lead role in a movie, they give you this so that you won't get hurt."
I wonder what story this handkerchief holds. As I bow deeply and express my gratitude, grandpa smiles and pats my head. My uncle, who had been watching from the side, speaks up.
"Hey, brother. You gave that precious thing to Young guk, but you haven't lent it to me yet?"
"Are you and the growing Young guthe same? And even if I gave it to you, you would have taken good care of it. It's a relief if you haven't lost it."
Leaving behind the sight of my uncle and grandpa chatting, I pedal my bike. The handkerchief in my heart warms my soul.
38.7% is the highest viewership rating for the drama "Youth". With the final episode approaching, the SBC Drama Department is excited about whether they can exceed 40%. This is because there hasn't been a drama produced by SBC in the past five years that has exceeded a 40% viewership rating.
"Kim Jin!"
The head of the drama department shouted towards the partition. Other production staff were surprised by his appearance. After all, Kim Jin is currently the top producer in the drama department.
However, the head's expression was unusual, and it seemed like he was extremely angry. At that moment, Kim Jin, who was sitting in the corner of the partition, looked up at the youngest producer.
"Ho-won, did the department head go in?"
"Senior, it's not that."
"Hey, hurry up and tell me. My legs are getting numb. If I knew this was going to happen, I would have run away to the variety department without gossiping. But why do you look like that?"
As the youngest producer's face turned pale, the head, whose face was turning red and blue, suddenly raised his head. Kim Jin, who was sitting and crouching, stood up and began to make excuses.
"Oh, why is there a pen falling here? Oh! Department head, what's going on?"
"It's a good thing that the youngest producer asked you to do. Don't be cunning and come with me!"
In the end, Kim Jin was dragged away like a calf being taken to the slaughterhouse. As soon as he entered the head's office, the head picked up the "Final Performance Plan" on the table and shouted.
"Hey! Are you going to do the final performance in the theater now? And then for the second round, what, Hanwoo beef? Did you really submit this as the final performance plan? We need to contact the reporters immediately, what are we going to do?"
"What can we do? Just follow the plan."
"They're talking comfortably and getting carried away! Did you think only you guys were invited to the wrap-up party? Even reporters might come, I might go, and even the vice-president might come. Does it make sense to hold it at the theater? Just switch it back to the hotel convention hall. Even if you spend a lot of money to make it look cool until the wrap-up party, you still act like a frog in a well!"
"No, how long are we going to be so formal? It's better for us to have it at the convention hall. But the filming team and actors are uncomfortable. It's a place for the filming team and actors to celebrate their hard work filming the drama, but journalists come, the director comes for an interview, and even the vice-president comes for a visit. By the end of the party, the vice-president might even get drunk there."
"The wrap-up party, as the name suggests, is a place where actors and filming teams who appeared in the drama can release their frustration about their hard work. However, these days, they're trying to be too formal, and not only do journalists come for interviews, but even executives from the broadcasting station come and take photos. Everyone speaks carefully, but if you're not feeling pressured in that situation, it would be a lie."
"It's okay to do it at the theater. We all agreed to watch the last episode together, so wouldn't it be better to watch it on a big screen? It's like watching the last moments of a bird that was raised with care! Honestly, the director has been uncomfortable with wrap-up parties since the beginning. It's already difficult to have the vice-president visit, even though he didn't even come to the filming set. And it would be a relief if only the vice-president comes, but he'll bring along other executives. It's better to ask for a raise instead!"
"Hey, are you the director? Are you trying to make things worse for your child? Is the theater already booked?"
"We've already reserved it."
"Okay, I understand, so I'll leave. I'll try to persuade the vice-president for you."
The drama director, who is completely fed up, shakes his head. Kim Jin, the producer who had opened the door at that time, asks with only his face sticking out.
"Director, but what about our Phuket trip?"
"That guy is really something!"
When the director made a gesture as if to throw his plaque, Kim Jin closed the director's office door without a word. The director let out a deep sigh as he put down his plaque. Sometimes, even though he seemed to be a master of social life, at times like this, he didn't have a care in the world.
Still, he didn't dislike it. Just seeing him carrying a gun made him uncomfortable for his family, and there had to be someone like him for this barren drama country to develop.
After finishing school, he dressed in his school uniform and went to the cathedral district. As if announcing the end of afternoon mass, the faithful were leaving the church and the nuns in priestly garb were walking.
"Brother, the soutane you wore at the presentation ceremony looks great on you. It's hard to find a pries in our district who looks so good in it. Come on, let's go in. The taste is not as good when the tea gets cold."
The archbishop smiles kindly and offers a tea cup, even though his room is filled with old and worn things, as evidenced by his demeanor. Even the Bible and prayer beads (mokju, 默珠) on display show the marks of time.
"Your Grace, you must have received the script for the movie through the production company, but I came here to apologize for not telling you earlier."
"No need to apologize. If I had heard about it from my brother earlier, he might have lost his enthusiasm. I stayed up all night reading the script. I repeated some lines over and over again like I did when I read 'The Sorrows of Young Werther' in my youth. And I wondered, can my young brother handle this script?"
"In what sense, Your Grace?"
The archbishop sets down his teacup and elaborates.
"The protagonist is someone who does a lot of reflection. He carries a sense of condemnation in his heart, confessing for the work he has done. I worry that portraying such a character might make my young brother feel uneasy. Can I ask you one thing? What do you think evil is?"
This is a question I was asked before. However, the situation has changed, and now the archbishop is asking me. If I had faced an unsolvable problem on the first day I came to the diocese, I would have felt frustrated, but now things are different.
"I think evil is when one's heart is wicked and their actions are evil, causing shame and leading to their own downfall. Looking at the prisoner trapped in the stocks, my pitiful gaze is not on the sinner, but on those who have suffered because of him. That's what I felt when I read the Book of Psalms."
With a pious tone, the archbishop briefly nods his head.
"My worry was groundless."
"Your Excellency, don't you think that the images in the movie could damage the image of the church?"
It was an honest concern. As the movie portrayed a priest in a way that was the opposite of the good image that people had of them, it made me feel uneasy. However, the bishop didn't seem to care at all and just smiled warmly as usual. Then, he showed his rosary and added,
"There is no right answer in religion. The content of faith belongs to the believers, not to the religion itself, and therefore, the contents of the script are not important. There is freedom of expression in this society, and no matter what the movie says, it cannot harm faith. I believe that is the power of religion."
At that moment, the hymns of the subtitles played under the setting sun, casting light on the bell tower with its red glow fading away.
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